The Billionaire Princess

Sara's ringing cell phone pulled her attention away from the opened email on her computer screen. A number with a California area code showed up on the screen, with no name attached. Assuming it was another reporter, Sara ignored the call and let it go to voicemail. It looked like she needed to change her number again.

  Prior to her mom's birthday party the month before, she'd remained under the media's radar and they'd left her alone. Since the party, though, every media outlet latched onto her and Christopher's relationship. Pictures of them together appeared on more than half the magazines published that week alone. Reporters tried to get statements from her. They called her office repeatedly and a few had even gone so far as showing up at Senator Healy's office at the Capitol. Thankfully security intercepted and turned them all away before they could get close. Now it looked like they managed to get their hands on her personal number.

  Though not the first time the media zoomed in on one of her relationships, they hadn't been this zealous since her short fling with actor Anderson Brady years earlier. In hindsight she should have expected it. Her past two relationships had been with men not known outside of politics. Thanks to his success, everyone knew the name Christopher Hall.

  With a half-hearted sigh, Sara went back to reading the email from Senator Healy. The man's messages tended to be long winded. She found that humorous because in person he always cut right to the point. Scanning down the screen, she dismissed the first two paragraphs, which contained a basic itinerary for his current trip. An itinerary she'd established for him.

  “You've got to see this,” Hannah, one of the senator's interns, said as she came into Sara's office. “Turn to channel 55.”

  Sara's heart stopped. Hannah never entered without knocking first. For her to have done so meant a lot. “What happened?” Visions of terrible events went through her head.

  “Carl Knight and Miriam Walker are on the Brown Report talking about the senator's education initiative.” Hannah grabbed the remote from Sara's desk and turned on the television. Immediately Vincent Brown, the host of the popular news talk show on CZN, came on the screen.

  While perhaps interesting, Sara didn't see the announcement as earth-shattering. Both political analysts regularly appeared on CZN and even without hearing their latest conversation Sara could picture how the discussion would go. Carl Knight was a well-respected political analyst who normally maintained a bipartisan view. Miriam Walker was more an extremist who found fault with everything Senator David Healy and his party did.

  “According to polls most of the country is behind this initiative approved by both the House and the Senate. I've heard it said that it will turn US public schools around. Make them competitive again with the rest of the world,” Vincent Brown's voice came through the television.

  “I don't know where you're getting your information, but most people in Washington do not have confidence in this plan. The only reason it passed was because President Sherbrooke's daughter attached her name to it. Without that name, the plan never would've made it out of the Senate regardless of what other names Senator Healy tied to it. And he knew that. Why do you think he pulled in Sara Sherbrooke?”

  “Miriam, I have to—” Carl began to say but didn't get the opportunity to finish.

  “Now that it has passed who is the real beneficiary? Hall Technology. It was announced this morning that Christopher Hall's company was awarded a very lucrative government contract, which is directly tied to the bill. As you know Christopher Hall was one of Healy's biggest campaign donors, and he is romantically involved with Sara Sherbrooke. There's no way all that is a coincidence, Vincent.” Miriam Walker said smugly.

  The voices from the television became nothing more than a hum in the background as Sara stopped breathing. Had the plan only passed because of her support? Had Christopher and David used her for their own gains? From the start David had wanted her to publicly support the plan. When she'd refused the first time, he'd let it go. The topic hadn't come up again until Christopher suggested it. Had it been staged? Her mind went back to her original conversation with Christopher. Looking back, their whole conversation took on a different tone.

  “I'm glad Hall Technology got the contract. From what I've read, it seems like a great company and is considered one of the top companies in the US.” Hannah's voice drifted through the haze in Sara's head.

  Sara closed her eyes she fought to control the emotions bombarding her. “I need to go, Hannah. If anyone comes looking for me tell them I left.” She stood and grabbed her bag and purse.

  “Hey, are you okay?” Hannah asked. “You look pale.” Hannah asked.

  No, she wasn't okay. “Just do what I said, please Hannah.” Sara walked past Hannah without waiting to hear her reply.